German Holiday Greetings: How to Greet Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in German

When the month of December rolls in, a festive feel starts to permeate the air. Christmas markets (Christkindlesmarkt) start selling their wares and delicious goods, Christmas songs fill the air, and everyone seems to be in good cheer.

Needless to say, Christmas is a big deal in Germany. So if you have German friends, make sure to greet them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in German! This article will show you how.

How to Say Happy New Year in German

To greet someone a happy new year in German, you can either say Prosit Neujahr! or Ein glückliches neues Jahr! Both greetings work fine. For a longer one, you can say Haben Sie ein glückliches neues Jahr! (Have a happy New Year!)

A somewhat strange yet widely used new year’s greeting in German is Einen Guten Rutsch or simply Guten Rutsch. It means a “good slide” or a wish for a smooth start or transition into the new year.

Of course, the new year comes with new hope and new aspirations. You can give your warm wishes for the new year by saying the heartfelt greetings below.